Daily News Brief

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May 30, 2024 (Thursday)

GLOBAL

Asia Pacific

1.       China Renews Military Activity Around Taiwan Days after Completing War Games. China continues to run military drills around the island of Taiwan after the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, who has expressed support for formal independence in the past.

2.       US, China Top Officials to Meet in Singapore for Rare Military Talks. The United States and Chinese defence chiefs are set to meet in Singapore this weekend, to hold rare direct talks.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       Uzbekistan Negotiating Extensive Rearmament Deal with Russia for Defense Forces. Uzbekistan is discussing a rearmament program with Russia for its air force, air defense, and ground forces, according to Dmitry Shugaev, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia.

4.       Sweden Announces $1.23bn Military Aid for Ukraine as Blinken Visits Moldova. The Swedish government says it will donate 13 billion kronor ($1.23bn) in military assistance to Ukraine as Kyiv struggles with multiple delays of vital Western military aid in the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

REGIONAL

India/South Asia

5.       Major Make in India Defence Deals Including K-9 Vajra, Fighter Jet Engines on Centre's Agenda. Several crucial 'Made in India' defence projects including the proposal for buying more K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers and fighter aircraft engines will be on the Indian govt’s agenda for final approval after the elections.     

IIOJK

6.       Indian Army Storms Police Station, Brutally Beats Officers, Staff in IIOJK. In a shocking display of aggression, the Indian army stormed a police station in Kupwara district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, brutally torturing police officers and personnel who were conducting an investigation into a case of army high-handedness in the district.

Afghanistan

7.       Turkey Suspends Diplomatic Visa Exemption Agreement with Afghanistan. The Turkish Presidency announced that the diplomatic visa exemption agreement between Turkey and Afghanistan has been revoked.

Middle East/Africa

8.       Israel Says Gaza war Likely to Last Another Seven Months as Tanks Occupy Rafah. Israel said its war on Hamas is likely to last “at least” the next seven months, as it sent tanks on raids into Rafah.

Iran

9.       Iranian Border Guards Kill 4 Pakistanis: Official. Iranian forces opened fire on a vehicle carrying six people at the Pakistan-Iran border near Mashkel in southwestern Balochistan province, Sahibzada Asfand, assistant commissioner of the town, told Anadolu.

INTERNAL

Security

10.      CTD Arrests Eight Suspects in Operations Across Sindh. The Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in collaboration with Pakistan Rangers Sindh, the Special Branch and local police conducted targeted search operations across various cities in the province.

Economy

11.      Chinese Envoy Highlights Need to Consider Proposals for CPEC Second Phase. At a recent conference on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan emphasized the importance of considering proposals for the project’s second phase.

Politics

12.      Sunni Ittehad Council to Get PAC Chairmanship. Sources told ARY News that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) will get 12 chairmanships of standing committees in National Assembly, while the SIC will get nine chairmanships, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).